Data from: A lectin-mediated resistance of higher fungi against predators and parasites

Fruiting body lectins are ubiquitous in higher fungi and characterized by
being synthesized in the cytoplasm and up-regulated during sexual
development. The function of these lectins is unclear. A lack of phenotype
in sexual development upon inactivation of the respective genes argues
against a function in this process. We tested a series of characterized
fruiting body lectins from different fungi for toxicity towards the
nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the mosquito Aedes aegypti and the amoeba
Acanthamoeba castellanii. Most of the fungal lectins were found to be
toxic towards at least one of the three target organisms. By altering
either the fungal lectin or the glycans of the target organisms, or by
including soluble carbohydrate ligands as competitors, we demonstrate that
the observed toxicity is dependent on the interaction between the fungal
lectins and specific glycans in the target organisms. The toxicity was
found to be dose-dependent such that low levels of lectin were no longer
toxic but still led to food avoidance by C. elegans. Finally, we show, in
an ecologically more relevant scenario, that challenging the vegetative
mycelium of Coprinopsis cinerea with the fungal-feeding nematode
Aphelenchus avenae induces the expression of the nematotoxic fruiting body
lectins CGL1 and CGL2. Based on these findings, we propose that
filamentous fungi possess an inducible resistance against predators and
parasites mediated by lectins that are specific for glycans of these
antagonists.